The Los Angeles Angels did not have luck on their side when they were paired with the Baltimore Orioles to begin the 2024 MLB season. Perry Minasian and company — who opted to cut costs and build toward the future — were tasked with starting their campaign against a legitimate World Series contender with talent at every position. But even after their three-game series against Baltimore ends, things don’t lighten up.
Their next stop is South Florida to face the Miami Marlins, who made the postseason last year. Then they return home, only to find more American League East opponents in the Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays. It’s a 10-game road trip after that to once again face the Red Sox and Rays, finishing that against the young and hungry Cincinnati Reds.
Finally, the month ends with a long homestand against the Orioles, Minnesota Twins and Philadelphia Phillies, all postseason teams. But for Minasian, this brutal month of April doesn’t change the way the Angels should be going about their business, according to Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com:
“My expectations are to play hard every day and be prepared to play and give it everything and just worry about today,” Minasian said. “I think in years’ past, we were thinking about winning two out of three or splitting a road trip or just trying to get back home. So we’re going to stay away from all that and focus on what we need to do today and not worry about tomorrow.”
Minasian, focusing specifically on how this team can accomplish a positive month, mentioned how the 2024 Angels have a different air about them than previous iterations.
“There’s high standards here,” Minasian said. “There’s accountability and not just among the coaches and front office, but player to player it’s been more so than I’ve seen in the past. So it’s a really motivated group and I’m excited to watch.”
The Angels are not projected to finish as a .500 ballclub, meaning that finishing that month — 31 games between March 30 and May 1 — with 16 wins may be too tall a task. But if they can fight through it and stay together, they may be better for it when the schedule lightens up in early May.
Patrick Sandoval falters on Opening Day for Angels
Opening Day starter Patrick Sandoval struggled against the talented Orioles lineup, lasting just five outs, giving up five runs (three earned) on six hits and two walks with only two strikeouts. Ron Washington has certainly not lost any faith in Sandoval, but chalked it mainly up to Opening Day jitters.